Can-opening device



March 4, 1952 JOHANSON CAN-OPENING DEVICE Filed Dec. 26, 1950 flwnzf; 62a; Jaw/wow, 05654550 Home: .A/

Patented Mar. 4, 1952 CAN OPENING DEVICE Elof Johanson, deceased, late of Chicago, 111., by ThomasD. Nash, administrator, Chicago, Ill.

Application December 26, 1950, Serial No. 202,750

2 Claims.

The present invention relates generally to can opening devices. More particularly the invention relates to that type of device which is primarily designed as a medium or instrumentality for opening a can of the kind that consists of a cupshaped body, a skirt equipped cover, and a tongue equipped soldered-in-place tear hand between the upper end of the side wall of the body and the lower end of the skirt of the cover, and as its principal parts or components comprises: (1) an elongated supporting member which is adapted in connection with use of the device to be placed in a substantially diametric position on the top wall of the cover and embodies on one end thereof a vertically extending bearing; and (2) a vertically extending shaft which has its central portion journalled in the bearing, embodies a diametric slot in its lower end for receiving the tongue on the tear band of the can, and is adapted when it is turned after insertion of the tongue into the slot to wind the tear band around it and thus eifect release of the cover of the can from the can body. 7

One object of the invention is to provide a can opening device of this type which is an improvement upon, and has certain inherent advantages over, previously devised devices for the same purpose and is characterized by the fact that it is essentially simple in design and construction,

embodies a novel arrangement of parts, consists of but three parts and is capable of being produced at an extremely low cost.

Another object of the invention is to provide a can opening device of the aforementioned type in which the elongated supporting member is formed of a single piece of comparatively heavy auge wire and embodies a pair of spaced apart side pieces, certain adjacent ends of which are connected together by a U-shaped end piece and the other ends of which extend inwards and terminate in two upstanding loose helixes which have the convolutions thereof in interleaved relation and together form the vertically extending bearing for the rotatable shaft.

A further object of the invention is to provide a can opening device of the type and character under consideration in which the upper end of the shaft is bent outwards and thenupwards to form a crank for shaft turning purposes and the lower end of the shaft is provided above the diametric tongue receiving slot with a fixed washer which coacts with the inner end of the horizontally extending arm part of the crank to retain the shaft against axial or longitudinal displacement with respect to the bearing that constitutes a part of the supporting member and is formed by the two aforesaid loose helixes in interleaved relation.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a can opening device which i generally of new and improved construction and effectively and efiiciently fulfills and serves its intended purpose.

Other objects of the invention and the various advantages and characteristics of the presentcan opening device will be apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description;

The invention consists in the several novel features which are hereinafter setforth and are more particularly defined by claims at the conclusion hereof.

In the drawing which accompanies and forms a part of this specification or disclosure and in which like numerals of reference denote corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a top perspective showing a device embodying the invention in its proper operative position on the top wall of a conventionaltear band equipped can and illustrating th manner in which the device serves in connection with turning of its vertically extending shaft to remove the tear band so as to release the cover of the can from the can body;

Figure 2 is a composite view showing in perspective' and dismantled relation the three component parts of the device; and

Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal section illustrating in detail the construction and arrangement of the two loose interleaved helixes which serve to form the bearing for the crank equipped shaft. y

The device which is shown in the drawing constitutes the preferred form or embodiment of the invention. It serves as a medium or instru mentality for opening a conventional tear band equipped can and consists of but three parts, .namely, an elongated supporting member 5, a rotatable shaft 6 and a Washer l. The can is designated in the drawing by the reference numeral 8 and consists of a cup-shaped body 9, a cover I0, and a tear band I l. The body of the can is formed of sheet metal and consists of a circular bottom wall [2 and a cylindrical side wall l3. The side wall of the body is connected to, and extends upwards from the edge portion of the bottom wall and embodies a short distance beneath its upper edge an outwardly extending continuous bead M. The cover of the can 8 is formed of sheet metal, consists of a circular top wall I5 and a cylindrical depending skirt l6.

3 The skirt is connected to the edge portion of the top wall and when the cover is in its closed position fits snugly around the portion of the body side wall that is above the bead I4. The tear band ll serves releasably to secure the cover in place on the body. It extends completely around the aforementioned portion of the body side walland the lower portion of the cover skirt and is soldered or 'otherwisesecured in place. One end of the band is provided with an outwardly extending tongue I! whereby the band may be turned from its normal operative position in order to release the cover so that it'may be removed from the body of the can. -As described more in detail hereafter the three partv device serves when properly operated or manipulated to tear the band H by a winding action.

The supporting member 5 of the device is horizontally elongated and is formed of a single piece of comparatively heavy gauge wire. It embodies-a pa'irof side pieces I8 and'isadapted in connection with use of the device to be placed in a oiametric position on the top wall I5 of the can cover lii,'asshown' in Figure 1 of the drawing. The sioe pieceslii ofthe sup-portingmember 5 are preferably straight. They are disposed in spaced apart parallel relation and have certain adjacent ends thereof connected together by a U-snaped end'piece if). The last mentioned piece is preierably semi c'ircular. 'lhe' other ends of the side pieces In are bent inwards and terminate in two upstanding loose helixes 20. 'As clearly shown in the drawing the'convolutions of the two helixes are'arranged in interleaved coaxial and abutting rclation'and' form a vertically e. tending bearing at the ends of the side pieces [8 that are remote 'irom the U-shaped end piece l9. It is contemplatedthat the convolutions of the two helixes will be formed by twistingor bending the extremities of saidother' ends of the side pieces around a vertically extending mandrel correspending in"diam'eter' to theshaft 5. If desired the convolutions'of the helixes may be soldered together'in order that the bearing that'is formed by the two 'helixes' 'is rigid or'of unitar character. The "uppermost convolution is preferably machinedor'groun'dso that the top surface thereof is substantially flat andex'tends at right angles to'the axis 'ofthe bearing. In connection with use "of" the device the wire formed supporting member 5 is positionedwithrespect to the'cover of thee'an 8 so that'the side pieces i8 overlie the top wall of the'over and the helix formedbar- 'ihg"is"disposeddirectly outwards of theannular depending Skirt] 6.

central 'po'rtion'thereof journalled in the aforemehtioried'helix formed bearing and has at the lower'end thereof a diametric slot 2| for receiving the tongue H on the outer end of the tear band ll of the'c'an. The upper end'of the shaft 6' is bent outwards at right angles, and then upwards at'rig'ht angles to form a crank 22 in the form of a horizontally extending crank arm 23 and a vertically extending crank handle 2'3. The length of the lower end ofthe shaft 6 is such that when the supporting member 5 is in its operative position on the coveroi the can the s1ot 2l is horizontally aligned with the tear band. In connection with use of the device the supporting member 5 isarranged or positioned asheret'ofore mentioned. Thereafter the tongue IT on the outer end'of the tear band I I is manipulated so that it extends through the diametric slot 2| in the lower end of the'shaft 6. After insertion of the tongue 4 through the slot the crank is turned so as to cause the tear band to wind around the lower end of the shaft. It is contemplated that'the crank will be turned until the band is turned completely from its operative position in order to effect release of the cover from the body of the can. In connection with turning of the crank the horizontally elongated supporting member 5 swings bodily over the top wall of the cover.

The washer I constituting the third part of the device extends around the lower end of the shaft 5 at a point directly above the upper end of the It is iixed in place by a so-called press fit and coacts with the inner end of the crank armz'sto retain the shaft 5 against axial or longitudinal displacement with respect to the upstanding bearingthat constitutes a part of the supporting member 5 and is formed by the two loose helixes 2|].

The herein described can opening device is essentially simple in design and may be fabricated at an extremely low cost due to the fact that it consists of but three parts and the bearing equipped supporting memoer is lormed of a single piece or length of wire. It may be manipulated with facility and eiiecti.ely-and efficiently fulfills its intended purpose.

l'he invention is not to be understood as restrioteci to the details set forth since these may be modified-within the scope Of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus describedthe invention what is claimed as new and desired to secure byrLetters Patent is:

1. As a new article of manufacture, a device adapted to open a can of the type that consists of a cup-shaped body, a'skirt equipped cover and a tongue equippedremovable tear band between the upper end of'the side wall of the body and the lower end'of' the skirt of the cover, and comprising 'a horizontally elongated supporting member adapted in connection'with use of the device to be placed in a substantially diametric position 'across the top wall of the cover of the can,'forrrred oi -a single length of wire, and embodying a pair of'spaced apart side pieces having certain adjacent ends thereof connected together by a U-shaped end piece and their other ends bent "inwardsand terminating in two upstanding loose 'helixes which have the convolutions thereof in interleaved and coaxial relation and together forma vertically extending'bearing that is adaptedwhen the supporting member is in place toassume a positionwherein it is directly above and-outwards of 'theskirt of the cover, and aye'rtically extending shaft having the central portion thereof journalled in the bearing, embodying in its lower end a diametric slotfor receiving the tongue of the tear band of-the can, having the upperend thereof providedwith turning'means, and adaptedwhen it is' turned bysaid means after insertion of the tongue into the slot to wind the tear band'around its lower end and thus effect release "or the cover of the can from the can body.

2."As a new article of manufacture, a device adapted to open a can of the type that consists of a cup'-shaped'body,'a skirt equipped cover and a tongue equipped removable tear band between the upper end of the side wall'of the body and the lower end of the'skirt of the cover, and comprising a horizontally elongated supporting member'adap'ted incohriection with use of the device to be placed in a substantially diametric position across the top wall of the cover of the can, formed of a single length of wire, and embodying a pair of spaced apart side pieces having certain adjacent ends thereof connected together by a. U-shaped end piece and their other ends bent inwards and terminating in two upstanding loose helixes which have the convolutions thereof in interleaved coaxial and abutting relation and together form a vertically extending bearing that is adapted when the supporting member is in place to assume a position wherein it is directly above and outwards of the skirt of the cover, a vertically extending shaft having the central portion thereof journalled in the bearing, embodying in its lower end a diametric slot for receiving the tongue of the tear band of the can, having the upper end thereof bent outwards and then upwards to form an integral crank for shaft turning purposes, and adapted when it is turned by manipulation of the crank after insertion of the tongue into the slot to wind the tear band around its lower end and thus efiect release of the cover of the can from the can body, and a. washer mounted fixedly 6 on the lower end of the shaft at a point above the slot and positioned so that it engages the lower end of the bearing and coacts with the inner portion of the crank to retain the shaft against axial displacement in either direction relatively to said bearing.

. THOMAS D. NASH, Administrator of the Estate of Eloj Johanson,

Deceased.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 555,940 Fellows Mar. 10, 1896 943,459 Read et a1. Dec. 14, 1909 1,073,007 Williams et a1. Sept. 9, 1913 1,759,364 Quigg -1 May 20, 1930 2,140,151 Dazey Dec. 13, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 145,480 Austria Apr. 25, 1936 

